New Year 2015

Happy new year! I'm so excited to start 2015. Each year brings a plethora of new choices, new adventures, and new opportunities; each one is a chance for new happiness, and changes.

I can't wait to see what 2015 will bring. I hope it brings much happiness, lots of fun, many blessings, new opportunities to serve and learn about God, and chances to make people smile.

Today I read a great quote that I love even more every time I see it. "Tomorrow is the first blank page of a 365 page book. Write a good one."

I rarely make resolutions, and when I do, I always break them. Usually, they're something like "Lose weight," or "Watch less TV." So, this year, I wanted to make resolutions that really fit me, ones I can keep.

My five resolutions for 2015 are:

1. Be happy
2. Be healthy
3. Be positive
4. Help others
5. Say yes

These are ranked in order of their importance. "Say yes" is number 5 because even though I want to start saying yes to more things, and have new adventures and experiences, I don't want to say yes to something that would conflict with the other resolutions.

What are your resolutions for this year?

What do you hope to write in your 2015 story?

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"This is what the Lord says--he who made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters...'Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland" (Isaiah 43:16 &18-19).

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" (2 Corinthians 5:17).

The Alabaster Box

One of our pastors sang this song in church on Sunday. I had never heard it before, and I absolutely love it! She usually sings songs I am unfamiliar with, and my list of my favorite worship music grows every time she does.

It's amazing when you stop to think about the significance of the tears, and the oil (perfume) the woman used to wash Jesus' feet, and the meaning behind it. How important the message is not only in this song, but in the story behind it.

The whole of this story in the Bible is awesome. I encourage everyone to read it if they haven't. I'm only going to use a portion for this post.
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"A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them" (Luke 7:37-38).

We Have to Be Ourselves

Karen Wheaton from The Ramp said "You'll never operate in your anointing as long as you're trying to copy someone else. You know when you are your best? When you're completely the DNA that God made you to be."

This is very true. We have to be ourselves. When we accept God into our lives, and begin following Him, learning from Him, and we become His children, then we are truly the people we are meant to be. Then, and only then, can we truly be ourselves.

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"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience" (Colossians 3:12).

'Tis the Season

In general, I find that whatever your religion or denomination, the Christmas season makes people a little happier and more giving. In general. This isn't always the case, of course.

In the days before Christmas, the streets and shops are filled with last-minute shoppers rushing to find the perfect gift, or get those last few items for the meal.

For some, of course, the holidays (not just this one) are a time of stress. Some people get so caught up in what they have to do that they forget to enjoy the season.

So, this holiday season, from Christmas Eve through New Years Day, please take some time to enjoy your families, your friends, and all the little things - the beautiful lights, the crisp winter air, the twinkling stars - and remember that this season is a time of giving.

It's the time when Christians pause to remember how God sent His only son to be born on earth, so that we could have the greatest gift of all - eternal life.
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"Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord" (Luke 2:11).

What I Learned from the Kings

The book of 1st Kings that is. Soon, I'm going to start working on the post about Elijah (as I mentioned, I want him to have his own post) but as he appears in the book of 2nd Kings as well, I want to be sure I have all my information, and I just don't feel up to reading 2nd Kings right now. I think I'm going to start Ecclesiastes. Yay!

I digress. The main thing I learned from 1st Kings is that the kings didn't fare so well. Well, some of them did. Some of them were stupid. You know, like people can be. I learned that all the kings who opposed God and His people not only failed, but got themselves killed, and their lineage cursed. Yep. That's what I learned.
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"The king of Israel answered Jehoshaphat, 'There is still one prophet through whom we can inquire of the Lord, but I hate him because he never prophesies anything good about me, but always bad. He is Micaiah son of Imlah' ' The king should not say such a thing,' Jehoshaphat replied" (1 Kings 22:8).

Noel

Though I will sometimes listen to Christmas songs throughout the year, often I won't hear some of them for a whole year. This song is one I haven't heard since last Christmas season. It came on the radio today, and it made me super happy!

I hope you all enjoy my favorite version of this song:

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"And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, good will toward men" (Luke 2:13-14).

Gird Up!

I randomly found this blog one day. It has a post about girding your loins. Seriously. It's about how to literally gird your loins. It has a really neat diagram too!

Have you always wondered what that meant? Neither did I. But it was really neat to learn anyway! For anyone curious about how men girded their loins back in the day, this post will be of particular interest. It was so cool to learn, even though I'd never wondered before.

Basically, girding one's loins meant making ready for battle. Literally, as the clothing they wore would get in the way if not gathered up and tied like shorts.

But it can be used figuratively too, as today's verses point out. We can gird ourselves, focus, and prepare for battle - mentally and spiritually.

It's kind of a neat phrase if you stop to think about it.
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Today's verses are from the KJV, because it mentions girding one's loins, while the NIV has changed the wording.

"Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning" (Luke 12:35).

"Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 1:13).

She Knew

When I was younger, I didn't like this song at all! I'm not really sure why. As I grew older, however, I forgot my dislike of the song. Now that I've matured, and have really paused to listen to the words and the meaning behind the song, I love it. I think it's fantastic. 

So, today I want to share with you this Christmas song, though I'm sure you've heard it many times before. This version is sung by one of my favorite bands:

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"'I am the Lord's servant,' Mary answered. 'May your word to me be fulfilled.' Then the angel left her" (Luke 1:38).

What's the Attraction?

Last night, we watched the newest Sweeney Todd movie, with Johnny Depp. Tonight, we watched the original play with Angela Lansbury. I enjoy musicals, and I have to admit that Johnny Depp's Sweeney Todd is in my top 5.

While watching the movie tonight, I had a thought. Why do people enjoy these types of movies? Why are we drawn to them?

Then, I thought it must be the revenge aspect - the thought that somehow, evil people get stopped, even if it isn't in a good way.

So, that's basically all for today. Just my musing and speculation about why people like these types of movies.

When We Just Don't Want to Do It

I've talked a bit about laziness before, but what about the other alternative? What about when we don't feel lazy, but burnt out? What do we do when we just can't stand the thought of going to work or class another day?

Today I finished my final paper and edited it, thankful that I'm only taking one class now. After four years of college, you'd think I'd quit going back to school. Now, I'm finishing my prep-work for the presentation that goes along with the paper. My hands are tired of writing note cards, my brain is tired of thinking, and the part of me that is studious keeps screaming "You should have finished it earlier!"

Basically, I'm tired of the whole process, not looking forward to my presentation, dreading the hard work of studying for the comprehensive final that follows later this week, and wondering why on earth I took this class.

What do we do when we feel this way?

Well, my answer is this: we just do it. We muddle through the things that make us feel this way, knowing it isn't permanent, that once we get it over and done with, it'll be an end to it. We might also remember times that were fun, or rewarding at work or in class.

And, I think, we can help ourselves by remembering that even when we struggle with something that we might think God considers mundane, that even we consider mundane, He is still with us, always. He might not reach down a hand and provide a divine reason not to go to class, but His presence will remain with us, reminding us that whatever we are struggling with, be it mundane or otherwise, will pass, and that He will be with us the whole time, even when we seemingly have to tackle part of the hill on our own.

That's my thought for today.
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"Nevertheless I am continually with You; You do hold my right hand" (Psalm 73:23).

Self-Promotion

Matthew 6:1-4 - Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

I think these are very important verses. I also think this applies to getting tax breaks for donations. Though I can see a purpose to that, I think not bragging about it, and doing it in secret where no one knows except God is best. Then, for sure the reward will not come from man, as though we were trying to please them, because they won't even know about it.

Sometimes I think this might be harder than others, like when a person donates hair. Friends and family will probably notice, and one shouldn't lie about why it was cut. I think, however, in that instance it isn't bragging, as long as someone has asked about it first.

So, don't make any donation in public to be witnessed and praised by many, and certainly don't brag about it, but don't lie about it. If asked about it, tell the truth, but do so humbly.

Friends of the World, or Pleasure Seeking

So, this is gonna be long. Bear with me.

James 4:2-6 - You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on pleasures. You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us? But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble."

James 4:7-10 - Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will life you up.

OUCH! When I read this, I couldn't help but think that some of it was directed just toward me. Of course, I also can see patterns in the world today with what this is talking about. We live in an extremely self-fulfilling, self-gratifying, pleasure-seeking, do-it-ourselves world.

It's not like that's really new either. The world has been like this for a long time. Generations of people have acted this way. And many people from those generations have chosen instead to humble themselves and glorify and serve God instead of succumbing to worldly desires and pressures.

Even we who believe in God sometimes do not ask of Him with the right attitude. Before asking, I think we should truly search our hearts and think "Why am I asking for this? Is it to glorify God, to further serve Him? Or is it for personal gain and pleasure?"

So, that's my thought for today. I was originally going to tackle a post about jealousy, but found this chapter of James to be much more relevant today.

Soul Bread

John 6:35 - Then Jesus declared "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty."

This is a great verse. The chapter continues with many more of Jesus wonderful teachings, but today I want to focus on this one.

In a former post, I talked about how Jesus is the living embodiment of God's Word.

Jesus is the bread of life because He is God's Son, God's Word sent to us.

Naturally, this isn't talking about physical hunger or thirst, but spiritual.

How wonderful to believe in Jesus and know that He will take away the hunger we felt before we knew Him. How wonderful that He feeds our souls with the very "bread of life," and that we can be sustained and fulfilled through Him. He is bread for our souls.